Swimming glove



June 15 1926.

F. C. WEBB SWIMMING GLOVE Filed Sept. 11, 1925 61am 0 H2415 about the wrist portion.

Patented June 15, 1926.

4 UNITED STATES k 1,588,635 PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK c. WEBB, or PORTLAND, oaneon.

SWIMMING erova.

Application filed September 11, 1925. Serial No. 55,715.

This invention relates to swimming glovesand has for its primary object, the provision of a glove wherein means is provided for normally holding the fingers distended to ofi'er a maximum area, but which may be easily and quickly collapsed by movement of the wrist of the swimmer to ofli'er minimum resistance in the return stroke.

A further object is to provide a swimming glove of this general character which shall e simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and which may be easily and quickly applied or removed from the hands.

With these and other objects in view, the invention may be stated to consist in the provision of a glove having webs formed be-' tween the fingers thereof, and a reinforced wrist portion to secure the same to the hand, there being an ad'ustablecord or similar element extending rom one side of the aforementioned wrist portion to the little finger and thence around the tips of the fingers and from the thumb to the opposite side of the wrist portion. A

In the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this a plication,

Fig. 1 is a top p an view of a glove constructed in accordance with my invention ang showing the same applied to the hand; an

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 2-.2 of Fig. 1.

In carrying out my invention, I rovide a glove 1 having fingers 2 and a wrlst portion 3. Intermediate the fingers 2 there are formed webs '4, and extending between the little finger and wrist portion and thumb and wrist portion are webs 5 and 6 respectively.

I preferably form the wrist portion 3 with a longitudinal slit 7 to enable the glove to be easily fitted to, or removed from the hand, and in order to securely retain the glove in position, I provide straps 8 which are arranged in spaced relation and disposed These straps are normally held in spaced relation by oppositely disposed rigid side members 9 which are riveted thereto and also through the wrist portion 3, as indicated at 10, or fastened in any other approved manner.

I am aware that it has been proposed heretofore to provide a glove. having webs between the fingers, but with this arrangement, the pressure of water on such webs 1s so great that it is impossible for the swimmer to hold the fingers distended and thus secure maximum area of the glove. Even with the fingers partially distended, this form of swimming glove causes considerable strain on the hand to hold the fingers separated. In order to overcome this serious objection, I attach a cord 12 or other suitable element to one of the aforementioned wrist straps 8 and extend such cord to the tip of the little finger, thence about the tips of the other'fingers and thumb, and adjustably fasten the end thereof to the opposite side of strap 8. The cord 12 is preferably enclosed in a seam 13 formed from the webs 4, 5 and 6 and either one or both ends of the,cord may be adjustably fastned to the strap 8 to vary the tension there 0 In use, a glove will be applied to each hand and straps 8 tightened about the wrists to hold the gloves in position. The cord-l2 of each glove is then adjusted to the proper tenslon with the fingers fully distended, and on each stroke, this cord will serve to retain the fingers se arated and thus relieve the strain on the ngers of the swimmer. The rigid members 9 prevent the straps 8 from slipping toward each other and at the same time permit movement. of the wrist. At the.

small area of the glove and hand expose It. isthus apparent that I have provided a glove which will greatly assist in the propulsion of the swimmer and which will relieve him of all strains incident to the increased area of the glove over that of the hand.

Iclaimr 1. A swimming appliance of the character set forth comprising'a glove having'a wrist portion and webs between the fingers andthumbthereof, an element connecting said fingers, thumb and wrist ortion and tending normally to hold said gers and thumb distended, and means for varying the tension on said element.

2. A swimming appliance of the character set forth comprising a glove having a wrist portion and webs between the fingers and and thumb distended.

3. A swimming appliance of the character set forth comprising a glove having a wrist portion andwebs extending between the .fingers and thumb thereof, a pair of straps disposed about said wrist portion and fastened thereto, rigid members interconnecting said tion, a cord connected to one of said straps and extending about the tips of said fingers and thumb and connected at the opposite end to the opposite side of said strap, means for varying the tension on said cord, and webs extending between said cord and little finger and wrist portion and between said thumb and wrist portion.

In testimony whereof I- aflix my signature.

FRANK G. WEBB. 

